Through 10 weeks, the New York Giants are 3-7 on the season, but they are trending upward, winning the past two games against the Washington Football Team and Philadelphia Eagles.
Quarterback Daniel Jones has gone two games without turning the football over, the first time in his entire career. With positive momentum heading into a week 12 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, a team who just lost their starting quarterback in Joe Burrow, the Giants are expected to win and are four-point favorites away.
If Big Blue can emerge victorious, they will be 4-7 and making a serious push out the NFC East title, but the Dallas Cowboys have a far easier schedule ahead of them, as the Giants are preparing to take on the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens.
While the Giants’ offense has been lackluster for the most part, their defense has been their saving grace. They currently rank 12th in points allowed per game and sixth in stopping the run. Against the pass, they have allowed the 24th most yards per game, but it is mainly due to their deficiencies at CB2.
To nobody’s surprise, a majority of their best players have been on defense, and that remains true when looking at the three most impactful players leading up to present day.
Ranking the three best New York Giants players through 10 weeks:
1.) James Bradberry
When the Giants signed cornerback James Bradberry, nobody expected him to be as good as he’s been. Through 10 weeks, he has earned a 74.2 overall defensive grade, with a coverage grade higher than Jalen Ramsey and Stephon Gilmore. He’s been the Giants’ best defensive player, and opposing teams can’t wrap their head around it. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, he was targeted eight times, allowing two receptions for 15 yards. Why target Bradbbery in coverage? Ask Doug Peterson.
Signing him to a three-year, $43.5 million deal was the pinnacle of their free-agent signings. Having settled in the elite category this season, the Giants wouldn’t be anywhere close to competent without his services. Replacing him with Janoris Jenkins was arguably the best move of the off-season, and general manager Dave Gettleman deserves some praise for that.
2.) Leonard Williams
After dropping a third and fifth-round pick for interior defender Leonard Williams, most believed this move would become obsolete after the 2019 season. The New York Giants, however, went on to franchise tag him, and he’s actually provided stellar production on defense this season. He has earned a 78.1 overall grade, per PFF, recording 34 combined tackles, 16 quarterback hits, and five sacks. He has been an animal in the trenches, stopping the run at an elite rate and also providing ample pressure on the pocket.
One could make the argument that Williams deserves a second contract with the Giants after this season, and based on the way he’s played, I would be surprised if they didn’t offer him a multi-year deal.
3.) Blake Martinez
Martinez was the second-best free-agent signing for the Giants this past off-season, and he has been elite in stopping the run. Martinez spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, and they mainly utilized him as a run stopper and mitigator of big plays.
Blake even mentioned before the season started that Green Bay didn’t utilize him properly and undervalued the MLB position. The Giants, however, have used him in many different ways, ranging from stopping the run to blitzing in Patrick Graham’s 3-4 scheme.
Martinez has a lofty 75.9 overall grade but had his worst game of the season against the Philadelphia Eagles last week, which dragged down his overall quite a bit. His tackling has been consistent and he’s actually been quite decent in coverage as well.
Given the Giants had Alec Ogletree at linebacker last season, Martinez has been a revelation at the position through 10 weeks.